Conor McGregor now faces autumn legal action by former close friend

Artem Lobov, 38, a retired MMA fighter known as ‘The Russian Hammer,' claims to have been the initial creator and co-founder of Mr. McGregor’s whiskey, which became known as Proper No. Twelve.

The Russian native has stated in legal documents before the court that he worked for free for two years to help set up the whiskey brand.

The former professional fighter, who has a Master’s degree from DCU in finance and capital markets, claimed he came up with the idea after studying the liquor market at university.

Judge Nessa Cahill was told yesterday that final exchanges of documents have to be made, relating to the date on which Mr. Lobov alleges that Mr. McGregor offered to pay him 5% of the proceeds from the whiskey sales.

He has said the promise was made while the pair were in a Dublin gym together. Mr. Lobov has claimed Mr. McGregor then reneged on that promise.

At a pre-trial hearing, Mr. Lobov’s barrister Liam Bell told the court his client had been "muscled out by the parties and wasn’t paid what he was due."

Mr. McGregor, who denies that any promise was made to Mr. Lobov, is reputed to have been paid $130 million when he and two other shareholders sold their stakes in the whiskey in 2021 to Proximo Spirits, owners of Jose Cuervo tequila.

He later offered Mr. Lobov €1 million in a post on X, which was refused.

If Mr. Lobov wins the High Court case, Mr. McGregor could be ordered to pay him close to €6 million.

The eight-day trial had been due to be heard earlier this year, but was delayed after Mr. Lobov said he had found an old phone, enabling him to be more accurate about when the promise was made by Mr. McGregor.

Having initially stated the offer was made in September 2017, he said he now believed it to have been made by Mr. McGregor in October of that year.

Mr. Lobov’s barrister, Andrew Walker, said yesterday that disclosure in the case was being extended to include October 2017.

"It is self-evident that he has to cover all the documents evidencing the agreement of October 2017, and he will," he said.

"If the defence requires anything further, they can let us know," he added.

Mr. Lobov will explain in a sworn statement why the existence of the old phone was only revealed late in the day, he said.

Mr. Walker said Mr. Lobov was anxious to get the case listed for a full hearing as soon as possible.

Judge Cahill said she would list the case for mention over the coming weeks, with a view to it being heard during the next legal term, which begins in October.

In the meantime, Mr. McGregor is awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal to his challenge to the jury’s verdict concerning Nikita Hand’s claim that she was raped by him in a Dublin hotel.

The hair colourist and mother of one was awarded just under €250,000 in damages by a High Court jury last November.

Mr. McGregor will also learn if Ms. Hand is found liable by the Court of Appeal for her legal costs in suing Mr. McGregor’s friend, James Lawrence, for rape.

She lost that claim, but the High Court ruled that Mr. Lawrence must nevertheless pay his costs – which have been bankrolled by Mr. McGregor.

The Court of Appeal heard his costs would be significantly higher than the damages she won.

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.